Electrical switch



Aug'fzf, 'i923'. 31,465.3@6 l c. L.. HOPKINS ELECTRICAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25 19]..9

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their CHARLYESL. OPKINS, G17' RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BENJAMIN ELEO- TRIC MANUFACTURING COIPAI-TTZ, F, EIICAGQ, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIO OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL pWWITCI.

To all whom z''mcg/ concern.'

Be it known that CHARLES L. l-lorirnvsE a citizen et the Unitet States, residing,` at

River Forest. in the county of Cook and My invention relates to electrical switches and more `specifically to pull switch sockets. @ne of the objects ot my invention is to Aprovide an improved switch construction in which'the circuit issimultan'eously brolren at two points, whereby the creino; effect is divided', and the dangerot injury to the switch is lessened.

Furtherlobjects will appear from thedetailed description tofollow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which one embodiment of my invention is shown Fig. 1 is a pla-n view of a pull switch socket embodying my invention, the cap beremoved; Fig. 2 is a section `substantially onthe line 2-2 ot Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a section line 3 3 of Fig. `1;

Fig. il' is a section line 1f-it of Fig. 2;

5 is a section line 3f-5 Ot' Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section line-S of FiO'. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section 7-7'016 Fig. 1;

Fig'. YS is a detail perspective view ot of the rotatable contacts; and

Fig- 9 lis a detail perspective view of a part of the switch mechanism.

` In order to `ive a. general idea of the invention, it is here stated that the embodiment of my invention here shown comprises a pull switch socket having a pair oi' rotatably mounted contacts 10`and 11 (which, howsubstantially on substantially on substantially on substantially the substantially on the ever are alwa 7s electricall f connected with nuls iet and 15 (the wiring terminal 111 being elect ically connected with the springcontact linger V12 and the wiring` terminal 15` boing` electrically connected with the threaded shell contact 16 of the receptacle), a center contact 17 for the receptacle, electr'cally connected with the spring contact finger 13 (Fig. 5), an insulating; base 1S on which therece'ptacle contacts, wiring terminals and switch mechanism are mounted, and a sheet metal casing 19 ttor housing the insulating;` base 18 and the parts supported thereby.

From thev construction described, it will be seen that the spring contact ting/ers 12 and 13 are insulated-from each other in the ott position ofthe switch, that the springr contact finger 12 is always electrically connected with the wiring terminal 1e'.- and that the spring contact finger 13 is always electrically connected with the center contact 17. lt will also be seen that as the movable contacts 10 and 11 are rotated. the cir lit between the wiring terminal 111 and cenv'ter contact 1'? will be simultaneously broken at two points, thereby dividing the arc and 'lessening1 the danger to the switch mechanism, and preventing other undersirable Ye'lects.

Amechanism comprises. in addition to the rotatably mounted contacts l0 and 11. and the cooperating' spring contact nn'ers 12 and 137 previously described, a rotatably mounted contact carrier 21 ot insulating material, au oscillatable switch lever or drum 22 tor operating;v the contact carrier 21, a ratchet connection 23 between the switch lever 22 and the contact carrier 21, a coil torsion spring 241 for returning the switch lever 22 after it has been operated by the pull chain and a lLl-shapcd switch Ytraine 26 on which the conact carrier 21 and switch lever 22 are mounted and which. switch frame forms a part of an electrical circuit between the two 'contacts 10 and 11 (which as previously barrier to prevent short circuitino'.

central circular web 2S which serves 1s-a The contact l() has L spiral Contact portion which rests'on* top of a corresponding spiral poiu tion of thei-atchet-shaped part 27 of the con tact carrier, and is provided with en inwardly extending arm 29v (Fig. S) having :t collar portion 30, into which a vboss 3l,

formed integral with the contactcztrrier 21,1

extends, the collarBO onderin 99 thns serving' to'holdthe Contact l() in position on the h'rngh' carrier. Y

'To furtherassistin holding-'the Contact in position on the carrier, and position it on the clrrier7 the contirct has an inwardlyV extend.- ing projection 32 (Fig, 8f) nf'hich engages it correeponding r'eoes'sus in the carrier.` The collar forms; e journal 'or the Vcarrier as it'efitendfsA into an opening in the stand ard 33 ofthe switch 'frame 20. vThe arm i9 not only serves? to hold the Contactin po'-V arm 42 formed integral .with the conte-,ct ThiS erw' Lll. has im cerr'er 11"(Fig. 5).

o'pcm through which ex;Y :i switch shit 11:3, Vwhich Switch Shaft me; he molded, in the contectcarrienll. The L2 ofthe 'Contact thn's serves, to hold the contact in plzice on the" ratchet-Shaped portion of the contact carrier, the Contact being' proi'idcd also nfith an inwvz'irdly extending' projection 'lili 5) tov properly position it on the lfiallflf.

rIhelegs of the spiderv terminate in ont- Wardly extending ieet il5D whichcooperate with outwardly extending` projections il@ von the wel) portion of the Spider tor hold the inonlzttine' discs 35, Stilzind 37 and theinsn- Y letting sleeve 3S inpoSi-tion on the spider.

In assembling' the leven the lenfe o'ii the Spider are sprung in'rvieirdlyenough to slip the discs 35 and 36-, the sleeve. 3S and the 'disc 3T over the/.feet 415, zitter `which the legs Vareffillowedto spring outwerdlygso that the discs and sleeve gir'clheldin plece between the outwardly'extending prjojectionn 4G and the feet 45. The legs of the spider rote.- tebly enfiagev t cup-shaped sheet metal hearingniemher Ll.I this hearing' memher having' a; reduced coller portion 4S which extends .into ai'ifopeninn' in a'n4 upright 419 on the switch trame.

The Shaft entende' ingo this collar portion 4:8 and is supported Y l' and whicl'ifelso 36 and' 3T,

'graines the tienne ofv the -thre l wiring terminal- 115.

proj eetion 57 en' thereby. @ne end oi the coil-torsion spring il is secured to the wel) 39 of?, spi er and theother end oi'l this Spring is sec-tired to the upright 49 of Vthe SwitchV V.trarne 26.

The contact ii ispilnjeye `eVectriciilly con!V nected `with the Snitch ih. Qlrttnd thus with the other Contact 'iOf-thronghlits iin-1 wir lig,7 extending firm #l and through the spider lli on vthe shaft and the hearing member Li?. yThe Switch lirzineis secured t" the insnlziti'g heseald' by meanefoi" aser 377. As previously stated the Spring-corr *not iinger lS'liS'etWnys in electrical conne-oion'with the centcrzcontict. 1j?.-thisconnec-` `Afion being; eiiiect'cd bjr nnefns'V "npr-ing.' contact linger tact in' place on thehis'e" The Wiring; tern'iinalf il,V 1s-#previously ted. is electricellyconnc i i'ngg' contact viinger th e nl heling heid inV posit mit e onontln hase 1S and n engagement with the sprim` ..ontact iting'er l2 by means' ctn screw",v Each ot theV rino' terminals lland'l'ere provided i the nsnalhindine Soren* A Q previously Stated the Wiring -teii'minirl lo ie electricalh7 connected Withthe thread- -eil shell contact 16 vof the reccptecle.` this connection' hein e'fectedhjx ineens-ete leren 54 l and fl) the heed oil? n Contact and theend Y oli-the' sy threaded. into the"- oinidfinn; plete The chein 25 is eecnrery "to vtl hy' ineens of e riool; memher: Secured' in place between the insnlii'tin 3G find 3'?. The oeoil t movement o switch lercr is' limited te 'snlsistantiel d" freers'hy menne oi :it "projection- 5'? int ,grail with t und 59 on the infinluting; here@ 1S- to limit tli movement oi" tl e lsnritcli lever in' earch direction.l 'i i The circuit from. the wiring; terminal lli to. the Wiring terminal T5 has been on'tlined in connection with the des!" 'iption ot the-ron- Structioit midis ne 'toll i .From the 7 ing terminal "ik throngghthe spring contact linger l2. 1'0" *'-illfv content lO.-li'i1 eh firm 29. switch All. ne 9 if, .ngjf" memher 1-.7. spider S212: (or shaft' e i' rotatable contact ll, si; if; g Contact rif-3, screw 5l. and cente 'Wh ever translating device insert-ed in the recen- .tacle toV the t',- "cded Shellcontact-l and thence through its previonslfv Stated, when the' switch isV moved to oli position.u the' circuit is: simultaneously broken ntftwopoi'nts between the cento coixtect sind the `Vnf'iringff terminali* thus' i d ivi d y I roo Vary during this' return movement.

The operationo my improved switch is as follows:

VAssuming .that the parts are in the posi; tion shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 5 and '6, (in which the switch is in ofi position) and it is desired' to turn the switch om the pull chain 25 is Ypulled down, to move theV switch lever 'through substantially 180 dee're s.

During this movement ol' the switch lever through 180 degrees7 the contact carrier 2l also is moved through 180 degrees through the ratchet mechanism 28. During this movement of the Contact carrier 2l, the springr contact fingers l2 and 13 ride upon the ratchet portions 27 of the Contact carrier and finally snap down into engagement with the contacts vl0 and ll respectively. rllhis simultaneously makes the circuit between the center contact and'wiring terminal at two points.

When the pull chain 25 is released, the spring 2e returns the switch lever to its original position, the contac-t carrier, however, remaining stationary during this return movement of the switch lever, the ratchet connection between theswitch lever and contact carrierV permitting this relative movement. VThe spring` contact fingers lf3 and ll would prevent any return movement Vof the carrier, by their engagement with the shouldersQbeh-ind which. they have just snapped. lf now it is desired to turn'the switch oil, the pull chain 25 is again operated,` again causing the carrier 2l to be movedthrough 180 degrees. During this movement ot' the carrier 21, the springT con-V tact lingers 13 and le ride upon the contacts l0 and ll and tinallysnap ofi lrom the rear end of these contacts. This breaks the Vcircuit simultaneously at two points between the center contactfand its wiring.;- terminal and divides the arc. Y Y y When the pull chain 25 is released, it and the switch lever are again restored vto their [original positions by means of the spring 2e, the contact carrier 2l remaining station- The spring contact lingers 13 and ist would prevent any return movement oi' the carriers by engagement with the shoulders behind which they have just slipped.

Having;` thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A switch mechanism comprising` a pair of contact lingers insulated from each other in the of position of the switch'and located side by side; andmeans for establishing electrical connection between said contact fingers comprising "a rotatable contact carrier; twocontacts carried by said carrier and located side byside and movable into and out of engagement withV said pair of contact iingers respectively; anda switch frame of conducting material for `support-1 infr saidvcarrier,` 'both oil" said contacts being electrically connected to said switchy traine. 2. A. switch socket comprisingl a receptacle contact,V wiring` terminal and a witch mechanism tor controlling;- the circuit be tween said wiring` terminal and said receptacle contact, comprisir1;` a pair ol" contact lingers insulated Jiroin each other in 'the Colif position ot the switch and located side by side, one ol said Contact lingers being electrically 'connected with the wi terminal, and the other being` ele :trically connected with the receptacle contact; and means 'l'or establishing electrical conne-:tion between said contact fingers comprisii'iga rotatable contact carrier; a pair ot' contacts carried thereby; a ratchet mechanism Afor operating said contact carrier, and means for rotatably supporting said carrier, supporting means electrically connecting said contacts with each other. l

3.A switch socket comprising a wiring` terminal; a receptacle contact; a pair of contact lingers, one electrically connected with said receptacle contact and the other electrically connected with said wiring` terminal7 said Contact lingers being insulated vfrom each other in the off position ol the switch; and means tor establishing elec'- trical connection between said Contact tinvgers comprising a rotatable Contact carrier having an insulating ange forming a barrier between said lingers? two contacts located thereon on opposite sides ot said barrier7 ratchet mechanism for operating said contact carrier, and means external to said carrier for permanently connecting; said rotatable contacts with each other.

'4. A' switch socket comprising; shell and center receptacle contact members: wiringterminals therefor; switch. mechanism 'for controlling the circuit between one ol said wiring terminals and one .of the receptacle contact members, said switch comprising a contact carrier; a pair ofcontacts tliereiim; a'switch lever engaging; said carrier; and a trame having' bearings for s'uiLJp-orting;` said carrier and switch lever, said contacts hai ing portions extending; to bearings whereby said. frame electrically connects said contacts with each other.

5. A switch socket comprising-r an insulating base, receptacle contacts carried thereby, wiring terminals also carried by said base, and a switch mechanism also carried by said base.l` said switch mechanism c( prising a stationary contact electrically c z nec-ted with one of said wiringa terminals, a second stationary contact electricallycoin netted with one of said receptacle cont an insulating rotatable carrier, a switch frame having bearings for said carrier, a pairof rotatable contactsmo nted on said carrier and arranged to engage said sta tionary contacts, one oit said, rotatable con lll) llS

taetshayng an extension forming @journal for supporting said carrier in Sedframe und electrically connecting said Contact with said frame, a sha-ft for, Supporting said e211-- rie', an Opm-ating memhe arrangehte 0;

cllate on said shaft, a spring smireundng said shaft for returning said Voperating member, ratchet connect-1011; between sind carrier andvsed Oscillating member, and means surrourichng sind Shaft for supporting said operating membeIjt-he other of Said' rotatable contactez being permanenty eleetl'lcally connected "with s-'1d switch'V 'ame.

InV witness whereof, have hereunto suheclthed my name. A Y

Y CHARLES L. HOPKINS. 

